Name: Khaleke Hudson
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 220 lbs.
High school: McKeesport (PA) McKeesport
Position: Linebacker
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #7
Last year: I ranked Hudson #2 and said he would be the starting Viper with 75 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, and 2 interceptions (LINK). He made 44 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 blocked punts.
TTB Rating: 80
I ranked Hudson at #2 overall last year, behind only Shea Patterson. We got a chance to see what the team looked like without Hudson when he was ejected from two games for targeting, a rule that Don Brown said affected his play for the remainder of the year. For better or worse in regard to Hudson, the defense as a whole didn’t miss a beat. The Wolverines plowed ahead with an elite defense until the whole thing went to s*** against Ohio State and then Florida.
The primary replacement at Viper last season was Jordan Glasgow, who still exists this year in the form of Viper/WILL Jordan Glasgow. There are some reports indicating that Glasgow is playing both positions, while others say Glasgow has made the full-time switch to WILL. Maybe the coaching staff is confident in redshirt freshman Michael Barrett to back up Hudson at Viper, or perhaps one of the other options, who are mostly true freshmen.
I expect a bit of a bounce back from Hudson. The Viper position has been much more productive, both in 2016 and 2017, and Hudson shouldn’t have to make any adjustments to his game. Maybe it was a one-year blip. Maybe it was just the fact that the Wolverines didn’t play Minnesota in 2018. Whatever the reason, Hudson should have a solid year in 2019. But if he goes down, the incredibly creative Don Brown could go with Barrett, Glasgow, more of SAM Josh Uche, a veteran safety (J’Marick Woods, Brad Hawkins), or a talented freshman (Daxton Hill, Quinten Johnson, Joey Velazquez). As perhaps the most recognizable position in Michigan’s defense, it will be very interesting to see who gets the snaps in 2019 when Hudson needs a breather.
Prediction: Starting Viper; 60 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 interception
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Most are asking will the defense be as good as last year. Most are saying it will take a little step down, but still be very good.
I think the defense is going to be better than last year.
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I don’t think there’s anything to suggest that this is true other than blind faith in Don Brown and his compatriots. Michigan is taking a step back at several positions. I’m not saying Michigan is going to give up more than 62 points to Ohio State, but the consistency from game one through game eleven probably won’t be there.
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Not blind faith. Track record.
Michigan lost far more in the 2017 draft. And the defense only went from #2 in the Nation to #3 in the Nation. I think overall the LBs are going to be better. The safeties are better, and deeper. I’m not concerned at all that Rashan Gary is gone. The defense went a lot of the year without him last year anyway. So no difference. But, Chase Winovich won’t be replaced. He was fantastic.
Michigan starts off with Middle Tennessee, and at home, instead of a tough team like Notre Dame away. I am sure the defense is going to devour that offense. Middle Tennessee’s offense was ranked #80 last year. And their 4 year starting QB is gone. What I’m wondering is, can Michigan shut them out, or can they hold them to only 2 or 3 FGs,, and can they hold them to single digits in scoring.
Starting with a team like Middle Tennessee is going to get the defense off on a high note.
Michigan didn’t lose as much in the 2019 draft as they did in 2017. And Don Brown has been teaching his system for 3 years. I’m still sticking with it that Micbhigan’s defense is going to be better this year than last. And I am not meaning by a lot. But still, better.
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Soloman is another name that’s been thrown out the there
I think if Hudson went down though, Glascow would fill in. Will would go back to Gill, McGrone, or Anthony – one of the many names mentioned since spring
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I think Hudson is ready for a big year too, but it may not show up in flashy TFL’s. They have to find a way to get Uche more snaps and if they do (and both are on the field) Hudson may not blitz as much.
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Expecting big things from one of our best players.
I’m not so confident about the backup Viper spot. Things hummed along in 2018 because it was against SMU and Nebraska’s backups that Glasgow stepped in. He’s still going to be something of a liability in defending slots which is why a move to WIL seems to fit IMO.
It’s true there are plenty of options – half our recruits seem to be being sold on being next there – but I’m not convinced there’s any one person ready to step in without a significant dropoff.
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I’m not the first person to raise this possibility, but how much of Khaleke’s decreased production last year was secondary to the drop-off in defensive tackle quality from ’17 to ’18?
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Some. It’s really hard to say. I think they were using Hudson a little differently in 2018 than they were in 2017, so that was a factor, too.
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Hudson is a good player, but not a great one. You put any decent player in that spot, and they’re going to make some tackles and some plays, just by being out there, but his actual production last year was nothing special. And over the course of a season, you can’t just look at the plays a guy makes, you also have to look at the ones he didn’t make..the missed tackles, the dropped interceptions, the passes over the middle that he got beat on. We really need someone better than he was last year at such a key position.
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I agree but don’t remember many missed tackles or dropped interceptions. Maybe I’m forgetting.
Michigan tends to put their best safety at viper. Hudson is #6 on this list of NFL Safety prospects nationally and he’s been an all-conference player and starter as a sophomore and junior.
https://walterfootball.com/draft2020S.php
I think he’s not Devin Bush or Rashan Gary great but I think he can have a great senior year.
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